Rather than being daunted by such an undertaking, Ross accepted the challenge, and in less than 13 months, with help from many Memorial Healthcare System people, that nonexistent hospital turned out to be Memorial Hospital West, located in Pembroke Pines. Ross said he learned everything he could about building a new hospital, including doing research on other facilities that had recently opened. "I spoke with the CEOs and got ideas of what was successful and what wasn’t. I love a challenge, and this was the biggest, because very few administrators get the opportunity in their careers to ever build a hospital."

 

He added that it was an enormous task, but one that paid off. "Nobody anticipated a new hospital doing as well as it did, not only financially, but for the community as well, with the services we offered, the number of births performed, and the difference we were able to make to the community for greater access to a Memorial facility. To this day, Memorial Hospital West has become one of the largest hospitals in Broward County because patients want to be there."

 

That venture took place nearly 30 years ago, and Ross called it his greatest accomplishment – "other than marrying my wife!" However, that isn’t to say he hasn’t had other achievements along the way. As a current executive vice president within the Memorial Healthcare System, he is responsible for emergency preparedness, safety and security, and global health services. Additionally, as CEO of Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Ross handles, as he puts it: "You name it – everything from safety, quality, service, people, community, finance and growth. I love it, it has been a true labor of love."

 

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital started a heart transplant program for pediatrics in 2010, and Ross then pointed out there was no reason why they couldn’t expand the services to do adult hearts, as there was a recognized need. Once that program was well underway, Memorial opened a kidney transplant program for both pediatrics and adults.

 

"Things like that keep you going. It’s phenomenal. Even when it comes to what we consider ‘simple’ procedures or ‘simple’ surgeries – although nothing is ever simple when it’s being performed on me – it’s a great feeling when patients are leaving, thanking me for the people we have. I am very proud of the people here, the staff, the medical staff, volunteers – they are all the best."

 

About midway between his tenure at Memorial Regional Hospital, however, Ross faced a serious illness; but giving credit to a fantastic medical staff, he was able to return fully after a year-and-a-half. Nevertheless, for that reason, the 63-year-old Ross has decided to retire at the end of this year. "There comes a time in a person’s life when you look back and recognize what’s important. I have three grandchildren, three children and their spouses, and a loving wife, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than with my family."

 

However, that doesn’t mean that Memorial will quickly fade in his rearview mirror. "You can never walk away from a love. I’m happily married 41 years, and I’ll never walk away from that; and Memorial is a love from which I can never walk away."

 

One of the things that has touched him greatly is knowing the difference one can make in somebody’s life. "I honestly believe that by setting the milieu at Memorial Regional Hospital or within the system, and being a thread within that culture, I make a difference to employees, to physicians, to our patients; because when I make my rounds, they say so. I’m very satisfied."

 

Ross expects the challenges facing his successor to be similar to what he encountered, yet different as things evolve. For example, when he started in the health care field there were no MRIs and no internet. "I think there will be challenges with newer equipment and technology. Now, patients come in more prepared, with questions. You also have to change how you work with the patients and your staff. Generations are different, and we need to learn how to meet the demands of each culture, and make sure they work together well."

 

Of his time with Memorial, he reflected, "I have been blessed, privileged and honored to work here, to be a patient here, to be able to mentor others, and to learn. It’s been a darn good ride."